The White House reassured that negotiations for a Gaza hostage deal and a potential ceasefire continue as an Israeli delegation prepares to fly back to Cairo later this week. Following a high-level summit on Sunday that did not result in a breakthrough, U.S. National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby emphasized that discussions are still making progress. The talks aim to secure the release of 109 hostages held in Gaza and to end the protracted conflict in the region.

The Israeli team, led by Mossad and Shin Bet chiefs David Barnea and Ronen Bar, and supported by Maj.-Gen. (Res.) Alon Nitzan, returned from Cairo on Monday for consultations. This group was followed by a working team from the Mossad, Shin Bet, and the IDF, who will also return to Cairo later this week to continue negotiations. U.S. officials, including CIA Director William Burns and Special Envoy Brett McGurk, are closely involved in facilitating the discussions.

Despite reports suggesting a potential breakdown in talks, Kirby and McGurk clarified that there was no official collapse. Instead, they noted that sufficient progress had been made to justify further negotiations at lower levels. Issues still under discussion include the terms of hostage exchanges and the release of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

In parallel, Israel has maintained its stance on the Philadelphi Corridor, rejecting reports of a reduction in IDF forces as part of the deal. The Israeli government asserts that the IDF must remain in this critical buffer zone. Hamas has insisted on withdrawal as part of the agreement, with ongoing debates about the specifics of this and other conditions in the three-phase deal proposed by U.S. President Joe Biden.